News

The European framework agreement focuses on occupational health and safety in the hairdressing sector, and was concluded in April 2012. UNI Europa Hair & Beauty and Coiffure EU, the European social partners now want to promote its implementation in the different member states. During workshops, they explain the importance of the agreement to affiliates, and organise for exchange of experiences on social dialogue at national level.



In Vilnius, that is exactly what the UNI Europa affiliates of Scandinavian countries, Lithuania and Estonia did with the employers’ organisations present. In some countries, social partners have come a long way in concluding collective agreements on training, health and well-being in the sector. Others, like the representatives from the Lithuanian Service Workers Trade Union and the Association of hairdressers and beauty specialists met for the first time since long. In any case, there was often not enough time to answer all the questions. The delegates proved indeed very motivated to learn from their neighbouring countries.



All agreed that health and safety, and especially the prevention of skin diseases, is crucial for hairdressers. To give but one example, professor Dermatologist John Swen Malte showed how a sugar cube melts away in water when it is not creamed. But a creamed sugar cube does stay intact in water. So creamed hands resist water much better!

That is how all delegates present were soon convinced that wearing the right type of gloves, or creaming hands when washing or dying hair is very important for the well-being of hairdressers.